A dramatic confrontation unfolded at the Djibouti football federation (FDF) headquarters on Monday as police ordered the president, Souleiman Waberi, members of the executive committee, staff, and other federation members to leave the premises. The move came after a group of club presidents called an extraordinary general assembly aimed at removing Waberi, a member of Fifa's council and the Confederation of African Football (Caf) executive committee.
According to the FDF, police first occupied its national technical centre on Sunday at around 5:30 pm without presenting an administrative document or court order. On Monday, a larger police contingent arrived and escorted 16 club presidents into the building, where they proceeded to hold what the FDF described as a "purported" extraordinary general meeting (EGM). The FDF rejected the meeting as illegitimate, citing improper convening and failure to respect notice periods and procedures required under its statutes and electoral code.
The dispute over Waberi's leadership has been escalating for weeks, with a coalition of 27 clubs announcing its intention to vote on the removal of the executive committee in early September. The FDF disputed the calculation, saying 45 club members would be required to trigger an extraordinary assembly. The government intervened, ordering the FDF to convene an EGM within 72 hours. The FDF has since appealed to Fifa and Caf, arguing that the use of state security forces could constitute interference in the affairs of a national football association.
The confrontation has raised concerns about potential consequences for Djiboutian football, including suspension, exclusion from international competitions, and a freeze on development programmes and funding. Fifa and Caf contribute over $1 million annually to the FDF through its forward development programme, which has financed football infrastructure and youth-development programmes in Djibouti. However, several tenders are under investigation for non-compliance with standard procedures.
Waberi and several other officials are facing charges after a police investigation into suspected embezzlement and money laundering was completed. They were arrested in September 2024 following a government inspection that identified financial and administrative irregularities. Waberi has denied wrongdoing, stating that Fifa's monitoring mechanisms revealed no indication of wrongdoing regarding the funds it disbursed.
The situation has sparked concerns among Caf and Fifa employees and contractors, who describe the projects in Djibouti as "a complete farce." They claim that the money has gone missing, projects are never finished, and nobody is held accountable. The controversy has also raised questions about the effectiveness of Fifa's monitoring mechanisms and the potential impact on the development of football in Djibouti.
The government secretary of state for sport, Fatouma Ali Abdallah, had ordered the FDF to convene an EGM within 72 hours, leading to the current confrontation. The FDF's appeal to Fifa and Caf has added an international dimension to the crisis, with potential implications for Djibouti's participation in international competitions and access to development funding.
Key points
- The Djibouti football federation's president, Souleiman Waberi, a member of Fifa's council, faces attempts to oust him amid allegations of financial irregularities and suspected embezzlement.
- The use of state security forces to remove elected officials has raised concerns about potential interference in the affairs of a national football association.
- The crisis has sparked concerns about the effectiveness of Fifa's monitoring mechanisms and the potential impact on the development of football in Djibouti.
